Cardinals Snag Whisenhunt

Ed Thompson

01/15/2007

On Sunday, FoxSports.com reported that former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt reached an agreement with the Arizona Cardinals to become their new head coach...

While the Steelers continue to mull over their options of what to do with the head coach vacancy created by Bill Cowher's resignation, the Arizona Cardinals reached an agreement with Cowher's former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

After interviewing with the Dolphins and the Steelers, Whisenhunt reportedly sensed that Pittsburgh wasn't going to rush to a decision, and moved forward with his negotiations with the Cardinals. He signed a four-year deal with an option for a fifth.

With ten years of NFL coaching experience under his belt, Whisenhunt gained his greatest notoriety during his three years as offensive coordinator with the Steelers, helping resurrect their rushing attack and developing an offense that played to the strengths of a young quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

The Cardinals now have Matt Leinart as their quarterback of the future, so Whisenhunt's experience in grooming Roethlisberger -- who was Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004 and finished third in the league in passer rating in 2005 -- certainly helped raise his odds of landing the opportunity in Arizona.

And although the Steelers got off to a slow start overall in 2006, the 2005 offense finished 5th in the league in rushing yards per game. That's an area that Arizona would certainly like to improve, especially after investing heavily in former Colts running back Edgerrin James during the 2006 free agency period.

Before joining the Steelers as their tight ends coach, Whisenhunt worked for the Ravens, Browns and Jets. Prior to his leap into the NFL ranks, he coached the special teams and tight ends for Vanderbilt University.

The team will formally announce his signing at a press conference on Tuesday.